Syndicate

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 26, 2008) – Two days after Stardom Bound’s stunning victory in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Juvenile Fillies, her connections were back in the Santa Anita winner’s circle with a 3-year-old filly after Foxy Danseur closed swiftly to take the $110,500 Cascapedia Stakes, the closing day feature of Oak Tree’s 26-day race meet.

Jockey Mike Smith guided the daughter of Mr. Greeley to a one-length victory over High Resolve in the 15th running of the seven-furlong event for sophomore fillies while running the distance in 1:21.66.

It was the first win in five starts since November of last year for Foxy Danseur, who is trained by Christopher Paasch and owned by Charlie Cono, The pair is reportedly getting ready to disperse of their racing interests including Stardom Bound. They plan to leave the sport early next year because of health and other issues. Stardom Bound and stablemates including Foxy Danseur will be sold at the Fasig-Tipton selected mixed sale on Nov. 2 in Lexington, Ky.

Paasch said he and Cono had decided to change tactics with Foxy Danseur in her final race for the pair. “We decided to take her back and make one run with her,” said the trainer. According to plan, Foxy Danseur rallied from seventh in the field of nine.

Sent off as the fourth choice at odds of 9-2, the winner paid $11.20, $5.60 and $3.60. High Resolve, with Russell Baze aboard, returned $5 and $3.40. Highland Torree, handled by Martin Garcia, paid $4 to show.

The Cascapedia was the second career stakes win for Foxy Danseur, victorious in the Sharp Cat Stakes last November at Hollywood Park. The winning purse of $66,300 raised her total earnings to $233,214

“I should be two-for-two on her at this meet,” Smith said in the winner’s circle afterward, referring to a head loss in her previous start, an allowance event.

“Last year, when she made the lead, she’d go on with it and open up,” Smith explained. “This year, she’s got a new thing where when she makes the lead, she waits on the other horses. The game plan today was to wait with her and not draw the stick at all. When I came to Russell (Baze, aboard runner-up High Resolve), he was really yelling at his filly. So I started yelling, too, but I had more left than what it looked like.”

Rafael Bejarano, who won three races on Sunday, secured the Oak Tree riding title, 30-27, over Garrett Gomez. John Sadler, who saddled 12 winners, won the training title by one victory over Mike Mitchell and Doug O’Neill.

Santa Anita, which will remain open for simulcasting when Hollywood Park’s autumn meeting opens on Wednesday, will resume live racing on Dec. 26 when its annual winter/spring season commences.